Sexism and Sarah Palin
The discussion leading up to Thursday’s debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden should be dominated by analysis of each vice presidential candidate’s views, credentials and experience. Instead, the story is that Biden must avoid being perceived as sexist.
For vice presidential nominees Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, the stakes at Thursday’s debate are high, but Biden has the added challenge of how to best be Barack Obama’s attack-dog without coming off as a chauvinist bully.
Isn’t the idea that Biden alone could come off as a chauvinist bully chauvinist? Phrases like “attack-dog” and “chauvinist bully,” which, at least in this context, function as synonyms for “man,” certainly are. But not all chauvinist bullies are men and not all victims of sexism are women.
It’s true that Palin is the victim of sexism; McCain’s chose her as his running mate because of her gender and, let’s be honest, her looks. Where’s the outrage about that? It’s being drowned out by the musings of those who view Palin’s candidacy as historic. It is, but for all the wrong reasons.
Ours is a male-dominated society rife with examples of anti-female sentiment, but the suggestion that Biden can’t go after Palin in a debate without being a “chauvinist bully” is insidious and, frankly, dishonest.
As with charges of racism, which are from time to time spurious, using sexism as a governor (forgive the pun) or a crutch discourages honesty and undermines social progress.
As we approach Thursday’s debate, though, the stakes are indeed higher and more immediate; Like Biden, Palin could potentially be president of the United States. It’s critical that both candidates be asked tough questions and made to reconcile their responses with, um, reality? To falter is to become fair game regardless of gender.
The notion that women merit the same access and treatment as men is difficult to take seriously when society is left to figure out when it applies and when it doesn’t.